England - A Guide to post-war listed buildings Elain Harwood

England A guide to post-war listed buildings
Elain Harwood EH & Ellipsis 1999 £15

Bearing in mind that less than 20 years ago, the official cut-off date for listing buildings was 1840, it is refreshing to see how far the conservation establishment has moved towards recognising modern architecture, listing 285 examples, built since 1945. Since a building has to be 30 years old to be listed, (only less if it is both under threat and outstanding) most of the buildings listed in this book were built between 1945 and 1970, although not listed until after August 1987.

In assessing these buildings, Elain Harwood as an historian has adopted an objective approach towards the examples described and illustrated, in the Ellipsis format. In her excellent introduction to this guide, she reminds us that the 1950's were not entirely dominated by modernism; and adds that "the early post-war years were characterised by a more gentle synthesis of modernism and fine brick buildings than had hitherto been appreciated". The first English post-war building to be listed was Sir Albert Richardson's Bracken House, in August 1987, later brilliantly remodelled by Michael Hopkins. About 55 of the 285 buildings in this guide can be said to be inherently traditional. However most of those listed were modern public buildings, housing, education and transport being the main priorities. Moreover one must remember that this was the heroic era of Britain's post war welfare state, that stretched from Beveridge to Thatcher.

The guide covers 6 regions; Northern England, Midlands, Eastern, South-West, Southern, and South-East. London is in three sections; North of the Thames, The City and Westminster, and South of the Thames. As expected, many of the buildings listed remain "icons" of their time, e.g. Park Hill housing, Sheffield, (shown above) Gibberd's Liverpool and Spence's Coventry Cathedral, the Smithson's Hunstanton School, and Taylor & Green's Norfolk housing for Loddon RDC.

Elain Harwood points out "few people realise that more churches were built during the immediate post-war era, than at any time since the 1860's." In fact, 43 churches, a cemetery and crematorium were listed; many somewhat traditional but also modern examples that are exceptionally fine, e.g. Maguire and Murray's church of the resurrection at West Malling Abbey, Kent (1964-66).

In terms of Urban Design, the most successful housing group is Freddy Gibberd's Orchard Croft at Harlow New Town, built in 1952-54. Elain Harwood explains that "the difficulty in New Towns was always designing convincing 3-storey town houses in a suburban setting. Orchard Croft succeeds because it marks the boundary between the local shopping centre, The Stow, - a relatively urban location that is nevertheless visible from a long distance, where its distinguished crescent form can be best enjoyed". Taylor & Green's sensitively designed and rationally planned rural housing remain unsurpassed. 5 examples of their unique terrace housing for Loddon RDC, Norfolk, were listed. Llewelyn Davies & Weeks Rushbrooke housing, and 3 Span examples were also listed. In London, the stepped housing at Alexandra Road, designed by Neave Brown for Camden (1972-78). Erno Goldfinger's Balfron & Trellick towers, and Churchill Gardens (Powell & Moya) were also listed. Alton East more influenced by Swedish point blockers, was followed by Alton West, inspired by Unité d'habitation. Educational and Transport buildings reflect the optimistic and idealistic mood of post-war Britain. They include work in both the old and new universities. The most outstanding railway stations were in the Midland and Eastern regions of BR in Coventry and Harlow. Harlow is a dramatic statement by Bicknell & Hamilton, who later in private practice built the Birmingham New Street signal box, and the Paddington maintenance depot, listed 2* in 1994 that saved it from demolition. Indeed in the present era of rapid change, and extreme financial pressures, the case for listing the best modern buildings is stronger than ever.

Therefore, Elain Harwood and EH are to be congratulated for their part in producing this punchy little book, even if its too thick to insert in a normal sized pocket. #

Derek Abbott